Recognition of Coursework from Abroad
Before you contact us
Please read through our website and in particular our FAQ before contacting us.
When contacting us by telephone, please also have your Student ID number (if already registered at our university) ready.
See also
Recognition of Coursework from Abroad
Creditpoints and Grades – What needs to be considered?
Credit points earned abroad
Credit points earned abroad do not always correspond 1 to 1 to the Oldenburg credit points / the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System).
Therefore, they have to be converted. For that, factors have been set.
The credit points/ECTS are then calculated as follows:
Foreign credits x conversion factor = credit points / ECTS
| Country | Factor | Example conversion | |
| Credits / Units | ECTS | ||
| United Kingdom | 0,5 | 10 | 5 |
| USA | 2 | 3 | 6 |
A list of set conversion factors will follow.
Grades obtained abroad
The Modified Bavarian Formula is used to convert grades acquired abroad into the German grading system.
The grade value sought in the German grading system is calculated using the following formula:
\[{N_{max} - N_d \over N_{max} - N_{min}} 3 + 1 = Z\]
Nmax = Top grade on the foreign grading scale
Nd = Note value to be converted, achieved abroad
Nmin = Lower pass mark on the foreign grading scale
Z = Searched note value in the German grading system
The following formula calculator will help you to calculate the grade value you are looking for.
You can find the top grade and bottom pass mark for the respective country in the list Conversion of grades earned abroad.
If the country you are looking for is not yet listed, you will find the relevant information in the anabin database of the Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen.
Please enter the following values:
| Maximum grade in the foreign grading system | |
| Minimum passing grade in the foreign grading system | |
| Foreign grade achieved |
| Result: |
Information on the conversion of foreign grades
The top grade (maximum value) and the lower pass grade (minimum value) are listed in the table under Further information. Between the values, the grades are calculated according to the mod. Bavarian formula. Section 13 (3) BPO (or analogous provision of the Master's regulations) applies, according to which the grade "very good" begins with the value 1.5. [1]
Rules for conversion:
- Conversions are based on the recommendations of the Central Office for Foreign Education (anabin).
- In the case of ambiguous boundaries, the grade values that produce the more favourable conversion result for the students are used.
- For comparable grading systems, the grades are assigned to the German system (e.g. for numerical or letter grades).[2]
- For non-linear grading systems (e.g. percentages), linearity is assumed to continue above the top grade, so that the maximum value is below 100%.[3]
- The (converted) grade 0.7 is not taken into account. The maximum value is adjusted accordingly.
- In the event of changes to the conversion conditions, the new conditions apply to stays abroad that have not yet been completed. For stays abroad that have already been completed or are ongoing, the previous conversion conditions apply unless students request otherwise.
Legal basis: According to Section 8 (2) of the Bachelor's examination regulations (or corresponding provisions in the Master's regulations) information may be obtained from the Central Office for Foreign Education (information portal for the recognition of foreign educational qualifications - anabin) to clarify the factual and legal situation. According to para. 4, grades from a non-comparable grading system [...] shall be converted according to the Bavarian formula, unless the examination board determines otherwise.
[1] The maximum value can be determined using the Bavarian formula by setting Z = 1.5. The formula is as follows: N (max) = ((3 x Z) - 0.5 x N (min)) : 2.5 . In words: maximum grade (1.0) = 3 x (value from which the maximum grade (very good) is awarded) - 0.5 x (value of the pass mark). The whole divided by 2.5.
[2] Example USA: the letter values A - D correspond exactly to the German spectrum from 1 to 4.
[3] Example Australia: The grades are awarded in 10% increments (e.g. "Distinction: 79-70%"); the grade "very good" covers a range of 80-100%. To maintain linearity, the range of grades would have to be set accordingly at 80-89%. The grade 1.0 would then be achieved with 86%.